Counter-Photography: Japan’s Artists Today

Hiroshi Sugimoto, ““Seto Inland Sea, Yashima”, 2001, Gelatin-silver print. Courtesy of the artist.

The Japan Foundation, Manila and the National Museum of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan present a joint photography exhibition to usher in the celebration of Philippines-Japan Friendship Month in July.

The long-touring exhibition Counter-Photography: Japan’s Artists Today introduces photographic works by Hiroshi Sugimoto (Season 3), Eikoh Hosoe, Miho Akioka, Miyuki Ichikawa, Akiko Sugiyama, Chie Yasuda, Kazuo Katase, Hiroko Inoue, Tomoko Yoneda, Tomoaki Ishihara, and Michihiro Shimabuku. These works are linked by the common desire to capture the world of ‘the spirit’.” Organized by Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, it is an attempt to reflect not only “the variety of methods of photographic expression used by contemporary Japanese artists, but also the unique ‘spirit’ of each individual photographer.”

Swarm in the Aperture: Recent Photography in the Philippines features works by Datu Arellano, Nana Buxani, Neil Daza, Kawayan De Guia, Tommy Hafalla, Wawi Navarroza, Gina Osterloh, Kat Palasi, Teena Saulo, Steve Tirona, and Vj Villafranca. Curated by Patrick Flores, this exhibition “veers away from the exclusively commercial pursuits that mistake the picturesque for the beautiful… and prompt the audience to engage the photographs with intimacy…”

Both exhibitions run from June 5 – July 31 at the National Museum of the Filipino People, Rizal Park, Manila.